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Pope Leo XIV Issues Message for World Day of the Poor

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In Short: Pope Leo XIV issued a message for the 10th World Day of the Poor, observed on Nov. 15, emphasizing the importance of the poor in the life of the Church and the need to care for those suffering the consequences of societal issues.

Pope Leo XIV issued a message for the 10th World Day of the Poor, observed on Nov. 15, emphasizing the importance of the poor in the life of the Church and the need to care for those suffering the consequences of societal issues. The Pope highlighted that the poor are often the first to suffer and that their numbers are growing in many societies.

In his message, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to return to the Word of God to reaffirm the importance of the poor in the Church's mission. He stated, 'In Christ, therefore, we are called to become poor and to be a refuge for the poor.'

The Pope also addressed the challenges faced by the poor, saying, 'Some of you know what it means to experience loneliness, disappointment, or the fear of not being good enough.' He emphasized that these feelings can lead to a belief that one must rely solely on themselves for salvation, which is ultimately misguided.

Pope Leo XIV's message was released ahead of the 2026 World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea, and he encouraged young people to open their hearts to Christ and allow His courage, peace, and love to overcome the darkness and suffering in the world.

The Pope's message also touched on the misuse of wealth, stating, 'Forgive us for storing up instead of sharing, for using goods as power rather than as service.' He urged the faithful to reflect on the proper use of wealth and to share their resources with those in need.

Father Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, read the Pope's message to his congregation following an Israeli missile strike that killed five people, including a Christian mother and daughter. He expressed gratitude for the Pope's message and highlighted the message's relevance in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Pope Leo XIV delivered his message during the celebration of Vespers at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James in Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of his Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

The Pope's message also addressed the importance of interreligious dialogue and the need to turn symbolic encounters into lasting structural realities. He emphasized that true security cannot be built on military force or political maneuvering alone, but rather on peace and dialogue.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• “Some of you know what it means to experience loneliness, disappointment, or the fear of not being good enough,” Leo said in his message.
• In his video update, Father Romanelli said he was grateful for Pope Leo’s message and said the airstrike confirmed local fears “that there is not a single safe place in Gaza,” neither in their homes, in streets and their churches.
• 4, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish, read the pope’s “beautiful message” he received earlier, just one day after the missile strike that killed Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel Najjar.
• (OSV News) — The pastor of Gaza’s only Catholic parish revealed that Pope Leo XIV sent a personal condolence message following an Israeli missile strike that killed five people, including a Christian mother and daughter.
• John Paul II invited world religious leaders to the birthplace of St.

What's still developing

• (OSV News) — The following is the full text of Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 10th World Day of the Poor on Nov. 15, observed on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time every year. 1.
• The words of the psalmist point the way forward as we prepare for the 10th World Day of the Poor.
• “A certain way of thinking tells us that we must do everything on our own, constantly working to improve ourselves and to develop a stronger personality and character. Yet this can ultimately lead us to believe that we are our own saviors,” the Pope emphasized.
• Pope Leo XIV will not attend the prayer meeting in Assisi, Italy, on Tuesday on the advice of his doctors following his surgery earlier this month, according to the Holy See Press Office.
• Instead, the prayer meeting will feature a special message of peace from the pope as well as remarks from Patriarch Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople.
• Pope Leo XIV opened his first full day back in Peru on Thursday morning with a message for the country’s bishops about abuse by clergy, which he described in Spanish as delitos — crimes.
• In an Oct. 23 message published by the Vatican press office, the pope’s medical team, Drs.
• Although he cannot travel, the Vatican said Pope Leo would send a message “to the organizers, leaders and representatives of Christian denominations and religions,” as well as to those attending the meeting.
• The pope’s message will emphasize his conviction that “the ‘Spirit of Assisi,’ dialogue and the search for words and gestures of peace are precious resources in an age of conflict,” the Vatican said.
• “There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy,” Pope Leo XIV told religious leaders gathered in Assisi on Tuesday, in a video message marking 40 years since St.

Sources

• OSV Newslink
• Ncregisterlink
• Vaticannewslink
• Aleteialink
• Americamagazinelink
• Catholicconnectlink
• Detroitcatholiclink
• Ewtnvaticanlink
• Anglicanlink
• Thelettersfromleolink
• OSV Newslink
• Wherepeterislink
• Cruxnowlink
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Warns Unjust Economy Threatens World Peace link
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Warns Economic Injustice Threatens World Peace link
• ROME REPORTS in English — video link